Managing Photography Expectations (and Sunset Portraits)

The sunsets above were taken at Port Royal, Lake Wylie, and Fripp Island. As you can see, the sun is well below the horizon in the first two, the time period often referred to as “second sunset.” In the third, there is a bit of cloud cover to diffuse the brightness of the sun and create the beautiful color. All three would be considered landscape photographs. Sunset portraits are a whole different beast!

One challenge a wedding/portrait photographer may face is managing expectations, particularly when your clients have a lot of expectations based on what they see on social media. I recently had a very rare and bummer of an experience with a client who was disappointed in her sunset photos. She was hoping for a bright, vibrant sunset, but unfortunately, because of a combination of factors, the photos didn’t come out the way she had visualized.

The biggest mistake in my client experience with this bride was that I did not send her my usual questionnaire before booking her…I think it’s because I already knew her and had taken her family photos for years, so I didn’t realize her vision for her engagement/wedding photos would be a bit more dark and moody than my typical style of photography. She chose an evening when the Canadian smoke haze was at its worst, and although I warned her that the sunset wouldn’t be as vibrant, she decided to move ahead with the date/time anyway. Additionally, the location of the photos was along the edge of a forest, so there was no access to the sky to light her and her fiance’s faces/skin with the sunset in the background. I could have offset that with a bit of flash, but we were cutting it close on time and the sun was setting quickly behind a treeline, so I chose to shoot just using natural light. During the editing process, in order to expose their skin for a more natural tone, the little bit of color in the sunset was blown out. After a couple of conversations, I did re-edit the photos using some masking in PhotoShop and LightRoom, but the experience/results were just not what my client had hoped for.

Thankfully, in my 11+ years of being a photographer, I have rarely had an unhappy client. Managing expectations is one thing you have to do well to prevent these types of issues, especially when a client comes to you with a list of ideas from Pinterest or an inspiration board. So here are some tips on managing those expectations from both the photographer and client point-of-view, as well as tips on photographing sunset portraits!

For Photographers:

Create a questionnaire, especially for your wedding clients, that allows them to share their vision with you. This can help you determine whether or not you are a good fit.
Share several full galleries with your potential clients so that they can see what your work looks like and make sure your style matches their expectations.
Educate your clients. Some clients may have unrealistic expectations due to a lack of knowledge about photography. Take the time to educate them about the process and any possible limitations. Explain technical aspects or any challenges that may arise so they have a better understanding of what to expect.
If you’re not a good fit, don’t sweat it! It doesn’t mean you are a terrible photographer…it just means you have a different style, and it’s better to stick with clients who love your style than to try to cater to a client you have worries about pleasing. Don’t take it personally if things don’t work out.

For Clients:

Ask to see some full wedding galleries so that you can see what the photographer’s work looks like and make sure your expectations match their style.
Realize that your expectations may be based on photos that have been taken at a different location, at a different time, and with a whole different set of lighting circumstances.
Clearly communicate with your photographer if you have a specific vision or inspiration in mind.
If you’re not a good fit, be honest. It’s better to find another photographer who you feel confident can match your vision than stick with someone who you have concerns about. There are plenty of photographers out there with a variety of shooting and editing styles to suit everyone’s needs. But don’t just ghost a photographer! It’s better to know why you aren’t hiring them than to leave them wondering and worrying what they did wrong.

For Sunsets:

This is one of my favorite sunset portraits ever, of my son one summer at Fripp Island. I exposed for the sky and then caught a candid of him in the frame. His skin tone is obviously not natural because of the darker shadow he cast, but the sunset was just gorgeous!

Understand that landscape photography with sunsets and sunset portraits are two entirely different beasts and require completely different strategies.
Understand what creates a colorful sunset. A cloudless sky does not provide the ability for colors to reflect, but a thick blanket of low-lying clouds can also prevent the colors from coming through. A sky with some mid to high-level clouds is optimal. Bright reds are created by lots of moisture in the air, so colorful sunsets don’t often materialize on very dry days. Pollution/dust particles can also absorb and mute color. The best time of year for vibrate sunsets on the East Coast is during the late Fall/Winter because of the air temperature and quality of the atmosphere.
Check the probability of a vibrant sunset. There are several apps, including Alpenglow, that can give sunrise and sunset forecasts in various locations. Be upfront with your clients about this forecast so that they aren’t expecting something that won’t materialize. It may take some flexibility in choosing the right evening!
Scout your setting prior to the shoot and identify the most logical place to capture a good sunset portrait. Keep in mind where the sun will be setting, if the sun might be dipping behind buildings or a treeline earlier than the actual sunset time, the lighting that will be in front of your subjects, and ways to help diffuse the light when the sun is a bit higher in the sky.
Make sure that you have adequate light in front of your client as well as the sunset behind them so that you don’t blow out the sunset when adjusting your lighting for accurate skin tones. Consider using fill flash and/or reflectors if necessary.
Don’t wait until the actual sunset to begin your session! If you get there a little early, you can always wait, but you don’t want to be too late or rushed.
Use a higher aperture to capture more detail and color (f8, f/11).
Create silhouettes by exposing for the sky.
Wait a little longer for “second sunset,” about 20 minutes after the actual sunset. That’s when the sky is usually the most vibrant with color. You will need flash for this if you are planning on shooting portraits!
Don’t forget to consider sunrise!!! Sunrise sessions can provide you with beautiful, soft golden light as well.

See below for some sunset photo examples and how I created them!

These photos of Courtney and Dalton at their MeadowView wedding reception were taken in a wide open field that helped to maximize the colorful sunset as a backdrop, but still provided enough light in front of the subjects to help expose for more natural skin tones.

These three are an example of the “second sunset.” The sun had gone down without much color because of the cloudless sky, but the vibrant colors began to pop about 20-30 minutes later, so I pulled Bridget and Daniel away from their reception at the 1932 Barn for a few minutes, added a bit of flash, and took these portraits. And when I turned off the flash and exposed for the sky, I was able to create a beautiful silhouette.

Managing Photography Expectations (And Sunset Portraits)